On Friday September 20, 2024, Berkeley High School varsity women’s volleyball secured a win against Saint Mary's College High School, after a very close game. Fans showed their support for the BHS women’s volleyball team as the Donahue gym buzzed with excitement.
The first set was intense, with multiple instances where the two teams were tied, and many quick lead changes. BHS gained momentum as the first set progressed, and once a time-out was called, Berkeley was up by five points, successfully winning the first set.
However, Saint Mary’s stepped up their game in the next two sets. They were tough competitors who challenged Berkeley’s skill level evenly. Saint Marys ultimately won both the second and third sets. “I definitely felt like this game would be a fight,” said BHS freshman and outside hitter Laurel McGatlin-Golier. “I knew we had to go into it expecting it to be a close game.”
“I was really stressed out at first,” said BHS sophomore Rubi Silva, referring to the beginning of the match. Silva is the volleyball team’s setter. “We had a lot of people in the stands cheering for us,” Silva said. “As the game went on, I became excited.” This allowed the team to begin gaining energy, and after losing two sets in a row, BHS picked up on their collaboration skills on the court.
The fourth set was another close one, but BHS prevailed. “We’ve really been working on our team defense this season, and solidifying how we play as a team,” said McGatlin-Golier . As the roster changes from season to season, team building is vital in order to perform well. “Getting to know the person next to you is really important so you can feel confident and comfortable being on the court with them.” McGatlin-Golier is the only freshman on varsity this season. “It's definitely new,” she said, “but I’m very grateful to have this opportunity.” Despite being a freshman, she truly stands out on the court, having scored 23 unreturnable attacks during Friday's game.
After the fourth set, BHS and Saint Marys were tied. Only one set remained, determining the outcome of the game.
During the fifth set, Berkeley was dominating. It was clear they had good communication and a strong team dynamic. “Mental toughness is something we’ve been working on as a team,” sophomore Liliana Sanger said. “Working well under pressure and keeping calm is really important.”
Sanger was pleased with the performance on the court. Women's volleyball is already looking towards their next games throughout the season. “I think if we can carry the energy from our win tonight into our next games, we’re going to do pretty good.” Sanger hoped.